The Marine Society College of the Sea

The Marine Society's College of the Sea

Life at sea is no barrier to learning

When it comes to distance learning The Marine Society’s College of the Sea has often led the way…

The Marine Society College of the Sea (MSCoS) is a specialist distance learning college committed to the provision and promotion of access to continuing education for professional British seafarers from all the sea services.

Founded as part of the Seafarers Education Service in 1938, it has encouraged, enabled and educated generations of seafarers from both the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy. It is what it says on the tin: a further education college of the sea.

Since the merger between The Marine Society and the Sea Cadets in 2004, the services of the MSCoS have been extended to all who work with the Sea Cadet Corps.

The Learning & Skills Council funded MSCoS is the main provider of tutor-supported self-study courses at GCSE and A Level to Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Merchant Navy personnel who learn at sea. Also on offer is a range of short courses from Report Writing to Business Skills. There are foundation degrees, work-based learning programmes, even masters degrees available: the college caters for all ages and abilities.

Seafarers have always been a bit of a nuisance to well-ordered society. They do not fit in to the shoreside institutions because of their itinerant lifestyles. To help overcome this educational ostracism, MSCoS is a registered examination centre and so arranges for seafarers to sit public exams afloat or ashore in all parts of the world as necessary.

MSCoS has partnership arrangements in place with many mainstream learning institutions as well as employer organisations, training providers and professional bodies. It works through these to offer seafarers unique underpinning logistical support for their studies. It also runs examinations at sea on behalf of other bodies, notably The Open University.

The college also serves as a respected source of independent advice and practical guidance on all matters of concern to seafarers; it offers scholarship and financial loan schemes to seafarers to support their professional development; and it provides an exchange library service to hundreds of ships.

So whether your interest lies in bumping up your GCSE/A Levels, undertaking a short course to improve report writing, or getting a degree - you ought definitely to find out what's on offer!

Seafarers in this country are undoubtedly very fortunate to have available the services of The Marine Society College of the Sea.